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I thought Kes was deadweight on VOY...your thoughts regarding the character?

The only reason one might think Kes was dead weight is because she was terribly underutilized. Not that she was the only one in that boat. None of the characters were particularly well developed at any point. Even the Maquis v. Starfleet friction that was supposed to be the catalyst for the main drama was jettisoned shortly after being introduced. So complaining Kes is deadweight is like complaining one corpse is more motionless than another.

Nevertheless, I thought she had fascinating potential. It was hinted early on she possessed incredible powers that she did not know how to use. This promised gradual discovery of new abilities as the show progressed. As far as unique Delta Quadrant elements went, she was it. Were you fascinated by Kazon street gangs, the Vidiian scavenging leper colony, or horny paramecium? I was not. Kes was all we got.

But they never did anything with her. She became the doctor’s assistant, and that is pretty much it. The only thing fans really remember about her is how incredibly unbelievable it is she was in love with a toady, emotionally disturbed jerk like Neelix.

Then they dumped her from the show for the most shallow of reasons. Garrett Wang was going to be fired because, as a character, there was not much for Harry to do. But People named him one of the fifty most beautiful people in the world, so they kept him on for the good publicity. She was essentially replaced by Seven, whose character arc consisted of wearing a skin tight cat suit and learning a tacked on lesson about being human in every episode whether she was prominent in it or not.

When it comes down to it, I defend Kes as a good character because she was done very poorly considering g her potential. To add insult to injury, she was replaced by a shallow character who was added solely for her sex appeal. It is insulting the powers that be at VOY thought I would prefer such things over making Kes a complex, unique character.